• Six Nations

Lion Phillips on Wales' bench for France clash

Wales have recalled Mike Phillips to their bench to face France at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night.

British & Irish Lions scrum-half Phillips made his return from a long-term ankle ligament injury in the Ospreys' Magners League victory over Connacht on Sunday and has been rushed into the 22 for their vital meeting with Les Bleus.

Phillips will provide back-up to Cardiff Blues' Richie Rees, who displaces Gareth Cooper in one of four personnel changes to the starting XV. Sale's Dwayne Peel, called into the squad by coach Warren Gatland on Sunday, does not make the 22, while Cooper has been released from the squad.

Huw Bennett is called in at hooker following an injury to Gareth Williams, while Deiniol Jones and Bradley Davies are named in the second-row following an injury to Alun-Wyn Jones and Jonathan Thomas' switch to blindside, to cover for the suspended Andy Powell.

Davies had been granted leave in the build-up to the team announcement following the death of his mother but will take his place alongside his regional team-mate Jones, who has beaten Luke Charteris and Ian Gough to a starting spot. On the bench, Scarlets hooker Ken Owens and Saracens prop Rhys Gill are in line for Test debuts.

"Richie has played himself into the starting line-up and deserves his chance, but once we had decided on his selection we couldn't ignore the opportunity to bring Mike Phillips back into the fold," Gatland said. "It was great to see Mike get a full half for the Ospreys at the weekend and he is someone who can give us a different option from the bench.

"He is a world class player and he has been champing at the bit to get back to international rugby. He may not be 100% match fit but he still has probably the best pass in northern hemisphere rugby and is a big physical presence so we know he won't let us down."

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), R Rees (Cardiff Blues); P James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt)

Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), R Gill (Saracens), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), M Phillips (Ospreys), A Bishop (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues)

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